David Morrison was appointed to the position of Head of the Arts Faculty this year. His 17 years of teaching at Lauriston give him a unique overview of the Arts program and its valued placed within the school curriculum and community. David's commitment to the Arts and education go beyond the boundaries of Lauriston. He is currently the President of the Visual Communication Teachers Association, Visual Communication Victoria, a curriculum writer and VCAA assessor, a practicing artist, with numerous solo exhibitions to his credit, and a Lauriston parent. David's pre-teaching life included many years as a band member and some forgettable stage performances. His aim is to maintain the Arts an integral and inspiring part of life at Lauriston and to continue to explore vehicles for collaboration between the arts and to be aware of and take advantage of the many new technologies that are developing within the Arts area
Amanda Rowarth joined the music staff in 1998 in the position of Head of Strings. Director of Music since 2004, she is a talented cellist whose professional background includes playing in symphony and chamber orchestras across Europe and Australia, and for productions such as Les Miserables and Phantom of the Opera. As a professional musician she also played in concert tours for Barbra Streisand, Barry White, Rod Stewart and others. Born in England to a musical family ‘both grandmothers played violin and my great grandfather played cornet in a brass band’ Amanda and her mother moved to Melbourne during her school days. At Mac.Robertson Girls’ High she began her cello training; ‘a girl in the year above me played cello and said it was fun and the teacher was nice’, she says.

Amanda completed a Bachelor of Education in Music at Melbourne University - and more recently a Masters degree in educational management. She then worked as a string teacher with the Education Department before heading back to the UK for four years to study at London’s Royal College of Music under the expert tuition of Christopher Bunting, a pupil of Pablo Casals the great Spanish cellist. On her return to Melbourne she taught cello at Scotch College.

Amanda’s passion for bringing music to as many people as possible is evident when she speaks of teaching music. The music program at Lauriston offers numerous opportunities for students of all ages to become involved. Her aim is ‘to give students the capacity to understand the process of music more – not just to play the notes, but to learn how they can express it better by breaking it down into its component parts.’ Music, as part of learning, helps to ‘round the students as people’ Amanda says. ‘Being part of a group allows interaction and teaches the girls to be
respectful of another’s right to participate. It also enhances a sense of responsibility, independent learning and self esteem.’

In addition to its excellent faculty of music teachers, Lauriston boasts some very talented performers who may forge a future in the performing arts. Through the music program Amanda hopes ‘all girls will become life-long lovers of music - the joyful audience. They can take away a better understanding of the process to be a more well-informed audience. We want to encourage the girls to love their music and have fun creating it together.’

Multi-talented Michelle Rosenberg has returned to Lauriston to choreograph our ambitious production of Anything Goes. Trained in jazz, tap, funk, hip hop, Latin and Club styles, Miche wowed audiences with her high voltage interpretation off the role of Roxie Hart in Lauriston's acclaimed 2003 production of Chicago.

Having completed her VCE at Lauriston, Miche is currently studying at Monash University and plans to major in theatre studies. When not at university, Miche teaches hip hop and funk at Lauriston and Camberwell Girls' Grammar and has been engaged to teach FunFit at primary schools.

She has performed at night club venues and also takes private groups for lessons. After she graduates Miche plans to become even more involved in music theatre.
During Term 1 the Year 8 Visual Communication and Art students undertook a unit on Fashion. This unit coincided with the L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival Week which commenced on the 14th March. Students studied various fashion designers and they were fortunate enough to have fashion designer Lisa Baron come and speak to them about her working processes, ideas and inspirations. Students were then given the task to design and create a fashion piece using recyclable materials, fabrics and found objects. The students found this unit extremely challenging and fun. The works will be on display during Term 2.